Fluid control device

ABSTRACT

A fluid control device is comprised of a control valve interposed on a fluid way to control the amount of fluid to be supplied or to be discharged which is being able to take three positions of itself respectively for full open condition, partial open condition and shut up condition, a reset member for keeping the control valve at its shut up position, an electric operation means for making the reset member unoperative whereby the control valve is set at its full open position, and means for keeping the control valve at its partial open position when both the reset member and the electric operation means are unoperative features, and said electric operation means preferably contains at least an electric source, an electromagnet which mediately restrict movement of the reset member and an electric circuit between the electric source and the electromagnet having a control switch which operates according to predetermined condition.

'ilnite Hiram) [4 Sept. 18, i973 FLUlllD CONTROL DEVICE [75] Inventor: Takehisa Hirano, Tokyo, Japan ABSTRACT [73] Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Keihinseiki Seisa, A fluid control device is comprised of a control valve Kanagawa-ken, Japan interposed on a fluid way to control the amount of fluid to be supplied or to be discharged which is being able [22] led: 1972 to take three positions of itself respectively for full {21 j Appl. No.: 235,364 open condition, partial open condition and shut up condition, a reset member for keeping the control valve at its shut up position, an electric operation means for [52] U.S. Cl. 251/67 making the reset member inoperative whereby the it. C]. control Valve is Set at its p position, and means Fleld of Search for p g the control valve at its partial p position when both the reset member and the electric operation [56] References C'ted means are unoperative features, and said electric oper- UNITED STATES PATENTS ation means preferably contains at least an electric 959,458 5/1910 Carroll 251/67 Source, an electromagnet which mediately restrict ,68 9/1954 SOgg 251/67 X movement of the reset member and an electric circuit 3,082,627 3/1963 YBO et all 251/67 X between the electric ource and the electromagnet hay- Primary Examiner-Henry T. Klinksiek Attorney-Eric H. Waters et al.

ing a control switch which operates according to predetermined condition.

7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures hi i Q27,

PATENTEU SEPI 81975 SHEET 2 UP 3 FIG. 3

a 72 m 2 c 75 30 3 L b- FIG. 4

a 72 o H3 i 1 1 FLUID CONTROL DEVICE BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a fluid control device having a control valve interposed on a fluid way being able to take three positions of itself respectively for full open condition, partial open condition and shut up condition to control the amount of fluid flow and if necessary shut up the flow.

, Especially the device according to the present invention is much effective for the amount of liquid fuel controlling of a heater, a boiler and the like.

More particularly the present invention relates to the fluid control device having means which automatically unlocks a reset member having locked the control valve at its shut off position and adjusts the opening position of the control valve with an electric operation system.

In a conventional electric operation system, at least two kinds of electromagnetic means have been needed independently for unlocking a reset member which has been keeping a control valve at its shut up position and for adjusting the opening degree of the control valve. But such a device is complicated'in structure'and much expensive because of using plural expensive electromagnetic means.

Therefore one object of the present invention is to provide a fluid control device which has a unique electromagnetic means for unlocking a reset member and for adjusting the opening degree of a control valve, and is therefore simple in structure and inexpensive.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a fluid control device of which fluid control valve is set at its partial open position when-the electric operation system thereof is out of electric current in accident, whereby overheat of a burner is prevented'bythrottling the amount of fuel inthe case that the present invention is applied to the amount of fuel control system of a heater and the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a fluid control device which is able to adjust partial open position ofa control valve and/or the full open position'of the control valve independently of a electric 45 Further object of :the present invention is to provide operation system of the control valve.

a simple electric circuit which exactly operates the above mentioned electric operation system.

Further more'object's and feature of thepresent invention will be'clarified by following description about few embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying ,diagramatic drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1- is a schematicelevation view of a heater system to which the present invention-is applied;

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevation view of the amount of fuelcontrol device of the heater system showed in FIG. I I FIG. 3 shows a diagram of an electric circuit to be used in the heater system showed in FIG. 1

FIG. 4 shows another diagram of an electric circuit to be used in the heater system showed in FIG. 1 in substitution of the electric circuit showed in'FIG. 3 Y

FIG. 5 is a sectional elevation view of another embodiment of the amount off-fuel control device as showed in FIG. 2

FIG. 6 is a sectional elevation view of further embodiment of the amount of fuel control device as showed in FIG. 2. i

DETAILED DESCRIPTION level control chamber 2 of which inlet 3 is connected to the fuel tank 33 and outlet is connected to the burner 32. And the inlet 3 has a. liquid level control valve of float-type 6 while the outlet 4 has the amount of fuel control valve7 being able to take three position of itself respectively for full open condition, partial open condition and shut up condition between the inside of the liquid level control chamber 2 and the outlet The fuel control valve 7 is usually enforced upwards by the first spring 27,, and the upward movement of the fuel control valve 7 is to be stopped at proper position thereof by means of a stopper came 8 which is able to adjust stopping position of the fuel control valve 7 by being turned about its vertical axis.

At the uppermost portion of the fuel control valve 7, the lowermost portion of a L-type operation rod 9 is fixed in unity. And the upper end of the operation rod 9 is in contact with the horizontal portion of L-type crank member 25 which has the-second spring 27 to enforce the crank member 25 clockwise against upward movement of the L-type operation rod 9 to keep the control valve 7 at its partial open position. 0n the other hand, an electromagnet 11 is situated near the vertical portion of the crank member 25 to stand face to face each other so that the electromagnet l1 electromagnetically enforces the vertical portion of the crank member 25 to turn the crank member 25 counterclockwise against enforcement of the secondspring 27 and allow the control valve 7 to keep its full open position when the electromagnet l l is magnetized. Moreover an adjustment screw. 28 is setted between the horizontal of the crank member 25 and the top portion of the operation rod 9 to adjust the distance between them whereby the control valve 7 is adjusted to be ableto keep the the crank member 25 as showed with solid line, a vertically supported push lever 24 is being pushed downwards against operation of the third spring 23 by the arm of the reset member 21, and the lowermost portion of the push lever 24 is pushing downwards the top portion of the operation rod 9 whereby the control valve 7 keeps its shut up position. And then, when the electromagnet 11 is magnetized, the crank member 25 is turned counterclockwise and the reset member 21 is unlocked whereby the control valve 7 is kept at its full open position.

As shown in FIG. 2, the reset member 21 has a reset knob 22 for resetting the reset member, and the control valve 7. has a seal ring 5 arround its outer surface for sealing during shut up condition between the liquid level control chamber 2 and the outlet 4.

According to FIG.'3, the electromagnet 11 is operated by an electric circuit which connects an electric source 30 and the electromagnet 11 each other. The electric circuit is comprised of a main circuit having a main switch 12, the first circuit (b) and the second circuit (c) which are arranged in parallel and selectively connected to the main circuit (a) by a changeover switch 13.

The changeover switch 13 is a type of a temperature sensitive switch which continues to select the first circuit (b) until the second circuit (c) is selected when the burner 32 is heated enough before generating white smoke.

The main circuit (a) has also an ignition heater 31 and an ignition sensitive switch 34 which stops electric current through the ignition heater 31 after igniting in the burner 32 by the ignition heater 31. And the second circuit (0) has a temperature sensitive switch 15 which closes at a low temperature of heated portion of the burner and opens at a high temperature of heated portion of the burner, and has also a fan motor 29.

In operation of the device, when the main switch 12 is closed for igniting in the burner 32, the first circuit (b) magnetizes the electromagnet 11. And the crank member 25 is turned counterclockwise against the operation of the second spring 27 by the electromagnet 11 whereby the locking portion 26 of the crank member 25 unlocks the reset member 21. Thus, the control valve 7 is moved upwards by the first spring 27 to its full open position limited by the stopper cam 8 from its shut up position having been kept by the push lever 24 which has been pushed downwards by'the. reset member 21.

At the same time, the ignition sensitive switch 34 and the changeover switch 13 is cut off after igniting in the burner 32 by the ignition heater 31 whereby useless electric current through the ignition heater 31 is stopped and the electromagnet 11 is dismagnetized.

Accordingly, the crank member 25 is turned clockwise to the position at which operation of both the first spring 27 and the second spring 27 is balanced, and the control valve 7 keeps its partial open position, whereby the amount of liquid fuel flowing through the outlet 4 is kept at its properly limited valve.

When the burner 32 is heated enough before white smoke generated therein, the temperature sensitive changeover switch 13 selects the second circuit(c), whereby the electromagnet 11 is again magnetized and the control valve 7 is again moved upwards to keep its full open position. Consequently, the amount of fuel flowing .through the outlet 4 is kept at its maximum valve and burning in the burner 32 is increased.

The temperature sensitive switch 15 is cut off when the temperature of heated portion of the burner 32 rises over a proper temperature, whereby the electromagnet 11 is dismagnetized and the control valve 7 is kept at its partial open position. Therefore, the control valve 7 is moved between its partial open position and the full open position according to the on off operation of the temperature sensitive switch 15, and buming of the burner 32 is properly controlled.

Now, it is obvious that if electric current in the electric circuit is stopped and the electromagnet 11 is dismagnetized in accident, the control valve 7 is immediately moved to itspartial open position whereby dangerous overheat of the burner 32 by being supplied with excessive fuel is prevented.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the electric circuit. Explaining the feature of the circuit different from the circuit showed in FIG. 3, the circuit is comprised of a main electric circuit(a') having a main switch 12, the first electric circuit(b') and the second electric circuit(c) both arranged in parallel. The first circuit(b') has a changeover switch 113 which opens only after igniting in the burner 32 between the main circuit(a') and itself, while the second circuit(c') has a changeover switch 135 which closes after the burner 32 is heated enough between the main circuit(a') and itself, and a temperature sensitive switch 15 in series with the changeover switch 135.

This embodiment is characterized by using a couple of simple on-off type switch 1 13 and 135 in substitution of the changeover switch 13 showed in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the device for operating the changeover switch 13 showed in FIG. 3 or the on-off switch 113 showed in FIG.4 This embodiment shows that the knob 22 of the reset member 21 is to operate directly on the switch 13 or 113 when the reset member 21 is at the position showed with dotted line. Therefore, the second circuit(c)is selected after the first circuit(a)is cut off if the changeover switch 13 is used, and the first circuit(b')is cut off if the on-off switch 113 is used, by not using an expensive temperature sensitive type of switch as theswitch 1-3 or 113.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the liquid fuel control device 1. Explaining the feature of the device especially different from the device showed in FIG, 1, an electromagnet 111 is comprised of a coil 111 and an iron core 111 of the coil 111 The head portion of the iron core 111 is pivotally connected to'a crank member 125, and the horizontal portion of the crank member is in contact with an operation lever 109 of which downward movement is limited by a control screw 128. Thus, the control valve 7 is balanced by operation of both the first spring 127 enforcing the control valve up upwards and the second spring 127 enforcing the iron core 111 to turn the crank member 125 counterclockwise at its partial open position.

A push lever 124 slidably penetrating the vertical central hole of the operation lever 109 is enforced downwards by the third spring 123 compressed by a reset member 121 to keep the control valve 7 at its shut up position.

The reset member is to be locked by the locking portion of the crank member 125 at the reset position thereof.

Another portion of the device has the same function as that of the device described referring to FIG. 1, which is showed with the same figure as that used in FIG. 1.

It is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited by the exact embodiment shown as a liquid fuel control device, and various other forms of liquid control device will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is: v

1. A fluid control device comprising a control valve adjustableto take an open position, a partially open position and a shut up position, said control valve having a spindle; first spring means normally biasing said spindle into the valve open position; a pivotable reset memsaid reset member; a vertically movable operating rod fastened to said spindle and extending toward said reset member; a pivotable control lever mounted on said device proximate one end of said operating rod; second spring means biasing said control lever downwardly against the upwardly directed movement of said operating rod for maintaining said spindle in the valve partially open position; said electromagnet upon energization being adapted to attract said control lever and pivot the latter in opposition to the biasing force of said second spring means, so as to cause a locking portion on said control lever to release said reset member and facilitate upward movement of said operating rod and spindle into a valve open position; third spring means normally biasing said reset member upwardly, said reset member upon being pressed downwardly against the biasing force of said third spring means being adapted to move said operating rod and spindle downwardly into valve shut up position.

2. A fluid control device claimed in claim 1 wherein said electric operation means is comprised of 'at least an electric source, an electromagnet and an electric circuit connecting them each other, said electric circuit contains a main electric circuit having a main switch in it, the first electric circuit and the second electric circuit arranged in parallel each other which are able to be alternatively connected to said main electric circuit by operation of a changeover switch, said second electric circuit has a control switch in it which operates according to predetermined condition.

3. A fluid control device claimed in claim 2 wherein said changeover switch selects said first electric circuit under operative feature of said reset member and selects said second electric circuit under unoperative feature of said reset member.

4. A fluid control device claimed in claim 1 wherein said electric operation means is comprised of at least an electric source, an electromagnet and an electric circuit connecting them each other, said electric circuit contains a main electric circuit having a main switch in it, the first electric circuit and the second electric circuit in parallel with each other, said first electric circuit has an on-ofi switch in it while said second electric circuit has a control switch in it which operates according to predetermined condition.

5. A fluid control device claimed in claim 4 wherein said on-off switch settled in said first electric circuit closed under operative feature of said reset member and opens under unope'rative feature of said reset member.

6. A fluid control device claimed in claim 1 having a control valve adjusting means which is able to adjust the full open position of said control valve.

7. A fluid control device claimed in claim 1 having a control valve adjusting means which is able to adjust the partial open position of said control valve. 

1. A fluid control device comprising a control valve adjustable to take an open position, a partially open position and a shut up position, said control valve having a spindle; first spring means normally biasing said spindle into the valve open position; a pivotable reset member for locking the spindle in the valve shut up position; an electromagnet adapted to be energized for releasing said reset member; a vertically movable operating rod fastened to said spindle and extending toward said reset member; a pivotable control lever mounted on said device proximate one end of said operating rod; second spring means biasing said control lever downwardly against the upwardly directed movement of said operating rod for maintaining said spindle in the valve partially open position; said electromagnet upon energization being adapted to attract said control lever and pivot the latter in opposition to the biasing force of said second spring means, so as to cause a locking portion on said control lever to release said reset member and facilitate upward movement of said operating rod and spindle into a valve open position; third spring means normally biasing said reset member upwardly, said reset member upon being pressed downwardly against the biasing force of said third spring means being adapted to move said operating rod and spindle downwardly into valve shut up positiOn.
 2. A fluid control device claimed in claim 1 wherein said electric operation means is comprised of at least an electric source, an electromagnet and an electric circuit connecting them each other, said electric circuit contains a main electric circuit having a main switch in it, the first electric circuit and the second electric circuit arranged in parallel each other which are able to be alternatively connected to said main electric circuit by operation of a changeover switch, said second electric circuit has a control switch in it which operates according to predetermined condition.
 3. A fluid control device claimed in claim 2 wherein said changeover switch selects said first electric circuit under operative feature of said reset member and selects said second electric circuit under unoperative feature of said reset member.
 4. A fluid control device claimed in claim 1 wherein said electric operation means is comprised of at least an electric source, an electromagnet and an electric circuit connecting them each other, said electric circuit contains a main electric circuit having a main switch in it, the first electric circuit and the second electric circuit in parallel with each other, said first electric circuit has an on-off switch in it while said second electric circuit has a control switch in it which operates according to predetermined condition.
 5. A fluid control device claimed in claim 4 wherein said on-off switch settled in said first electric circuit closed under operative feature of said reset member and opens under unoperative feature of said reset member.
 6. A fluid control device claimed in claim 1 having a control valve adjusting means which is able to adjust the full open position of said control valve.
 7. A fluid control device claimed in claim 1 having a control valve adjusting means which is able to adjust the partial open position of said control valve. 